Showing posts with label E. The Industry. Show all posts

Tuesday, 1 July 2014

Careers Booklet

Task 1

Below are 5 qualities I believe that I have that would be useful for employees, and three reasons that back up that quality:

1. Work Independently

I find in class I complete work better when I am alone than in a group, groups can sometimes distract me.

I had to make a documentary by myself for media and I found it easier making it by myself instead of when I had to make one in a small group.

I can sort out and corrects mistakes easier by myself than having other try and put there ideas forward aswell.

2. Confident

I can talk to a group of people easily without becoming anxious or forgetful (as long as I have prepared my speech, talk etc..)

If I have an idea which I am confident about I can back it up and not back down.

I did GCSE Drama in High-school and I passed this subject, this shows that I am confident in front of a crowd whilst performing

3. I.T (Computer Skills)

I have basic knowledge and skills in Premiere Pro

I also have basic knowledge and skills in Photoshop

I completed a basic computer skills course at GCSE level in High-school (Aida)

4. Camera Skills

I studied Media in College, In this subject I had many chances to work with camera, and to learn about the best angles and types of scenery to shoot good footage in.

I also had a chance to make various films/videos in High-school during Drama and Aida.

I use to make a few short films in my younger years of high-school for a 'YouTube' account me and my friend made.

I helped a camera crew to film at the PGA Golf Tour at Wentworth Golf club with SKY.

5. Team Worker

Although I prefer to work independently I can still work in a team well.

I had to think up an idea/story for me and a group to act out in Drama in High-school

During my media course in college I had to work with different groups to produce different types of videos e.g awareness video, advert etc..

Task 2

I work part time with my dad, I clean, fix, and help run our properties which are rented out to various tenants, these houses are situated in Great Yarmouth and Norwich.

I am a full time student at 'East Norfolk Sixth Form College' in Gorleston, I studied in my first year Maths GCSE, Psychology GCSE and a Media BTEC. In my second year I am hoping to complete my second year of my Media BTEC and another subject which I am currently undecided about.

I hope to carry on to University after college but I don't know what I am going to be studying.

Task 3

Below are 3 jobs which I would be interested in within the Media:

Production Runner:

Industry: Film

Job details:

Working in the office, around the set and on location
Dealing with varied office admin tasks

Dealing with a range jobs on locations

To do this role, you will need to:

Be flexible and well organised
Be able to think on your feet
Have good communication skills
Be able to take orders
Be tactful and diplomatic
Be punctual
Be enthusiastic
Be able to work calmly and effectively under pressure
Have good IT skills
Have good organisational and administrative skills
Be able to work without supervision
Be versatile and a willing to learn
Be aware of relevant health and safety laws and procedures

Best Route In:

Start out by getting some experience in film, drama or broadcasting. It can be in amateur dramatics, student radio or film making, shorts or community media. This will put you in a better position to apply for work as a Production Runner, as there is a lot of competition for jobs despite the low pay.

This is a good entry-level role into the film industry. You can make valuable contacts and may progress to a trainee position or another role in the Production Office.

Qualifications:

You don’t need a specific qualification, but a good education is an advantage. You will also need a full, clean EU driving licence.

Camera Operator (Portable Single Camera):

Industry: TV

Job details:

Supporting the Director of Photography and the Director with shot composition and development on high budget productions
Being responsible for all aspects of camera preparation and operation

To do this role, you will need to:

have artistic ability and be able to offer creative input
have good colour vision, and excellent hand-to-eye co-ordination
have a strong affinity with technology, knowledge of the relevant electronics and an in-depth knowledge of the principles of camera work
have good communication skills and show diplomacy and sensitivity when working with artists, production staff and crew
be able to take direction and work as part of a team, particularly on multi-camera shoots
be able to carry out instructions with great accuracy and attention to detail
be able to frame and compose shots and perform camera moves with precision and speed
have good IT skills
possess physical stamina for working long hours and moving heavy equipment
understand the requirements of the relevant health and safety legislation and procedures

Best Route In:

Intensive industry experience is the best route into this role, having gained a grounding in the basic camera skills and knowledge required. You could begin your career as a Camera Assistant, and then work your way up through the ranks of the camera department over several years.

Qualifications:

You do not need a specific qualification to work in this role. Instead, you would usually learn the practical skills required through hands-on experience on the job. That said, continuing professional development is vital, especially as camera technology changes rapidly.

Basic stills photography, which develops visual and composition skills, also provides a useful starting point in training for this role.

In addition, the Apprenticeship in Creative and Digital Media could allow you to gain camera skills on the job. Again, the Creative Skillset Tick has been awarded to some apprenticeship programmes that provide the meet the highest standard of industry-relevant training.

Sound Recordist:

Industry: TV

Job details:

Recording sound on location or in a studio, usually in synchronisation with the camera, to enable the highest quality 'real' sound to be recorded at the time of filming

To do this role, you will need to:

be a strong team player - many of the skills needed in this role involve working as a team as efficiently and effectively as possible
be willing and able to compromise
be able to think creatively to solve problems created by particular locations or situations
pay close attention to detail and concentrate for long periods
have good knowledge of audio equipment and sound technology
have knowledge of the television production process, including camera and lighting techniques
have knowledge of management and licensing of radio transmission systems
have excellent hearing
have excellent balance, agility and a good sense of timing
have good communication skills, including diplomacy and sensitivity when working with artists and crew members
be patient, self-disciplined and reliable
have knowledge of the requirements of the relevant health & safety legislation and procedures

Best Route In:

The best way to start your career in sound is to develop and demonstrate an interest in, and enthusiasm for sound. You can do this by exploring, experimenting and learning about audio technology and its capabilities.

Your first steps into the industry will normally be in a trainee role. On-the-job training or shadowing of more experienced personnel is the best way to learn. Experience of working in theatre or the music industry, hospital or community radio would also provide you with a useful background for this role. Alternatively, getting a job with an equipment manufacturer or hire company could also provide valuable experience and training, helping you to learn about sound equipment, make industry contacts and get a foot in the door.

Qualifications:

You won’t need a qualification to be a TV Sound Recordist. However it is vital to be able to show a strong interest in sound and an understanding of its physical properties.

Courses are available throughout the UK, from HND to degree level in sound technology, audio engineering, acoustics and music recording.

You will need to develop your skills throughout your career as television sound technology and techniques are constantly changing.

Information from: http://creativeskillset.org/job_roles_and_stories/job_roles

Task 4

Below are the different forms of recruitment:

National Press:

National press is a method of recruitment where job applications are put into newspapers such as the guardian or the times so that people reading these newspapers will see these adverts and if interested will go forward for the job.

Trade Press:

Trade press is associated for a certain area of expertise, for example journalists will have there own newspapers with certain things to write about and report on, and actors will have a newspaper which will relate to them such as new acting parts. Overall its is just a more specific type of jobs in each different paper instead of lots of different types of job in one newspaper like in national press.

Internet:

Jobs can be advertised on the internet, you can access these adverts from various websites such as http://www.ideastap.com/opportunities/jobs, these will allow you to access specific and a wide range of jobs.

Trade Fairs:

Trade fairs are large gatherings of lots of different companies which each have a designated stall where they pitch there jobs and have adverts up so that you know what you're going for, this is a good way if you want to speak to the actual employers instead of reading the advert. An example of a trade fair is 'ShowWest Trade Show' this is a trade fair held in Las Vegas

Word of Mouth:

Word of mouth is basically hearing of a job from your friends or somewhere else, this is not necessarily the most formal or the correct way but you can here about lots of different jobs.

Personal Contacts:

Personal contacts are people who you already know in the industry who can offer you jobs or tell you about them before other people know, this is a good way to get in quick before a large number of other people apply.

Internal Promotion:

An internal promotion is a job promotion/upgrade within a company that you are already in, for example if you work well your boss may promote you to a better job because you show you work well and are reliable, or because of another outstanding quality.

CV

Cover Letter

Task 6

Portfolios: These are work which someone has gathered over a certain amount of time, they give evidence of what an individual is able to achieve. I have never had to make a portfolio but if I take Graphics next year I will have to produce one with my artwork in showing them I am at a certain standard/level for the course.

Show reels: These are kind of the same thing as a portfolio, but instead of it being a still image, it consists of a short video showing certain filming skills which may be necessary for a certain job, media position etc. I have never had to complete one but I may in the future if I am applying for jobs in the media industry.

Personal website: These are anything which an individual has created themselves, They show they're idea using a website. This is usually created in the form of a 'blog', a common example of this is Tumblr, a social networking website or Blogger.

Task 7

Interviewing skills: These are skills such as good listening skills, the use of appropriate language etc. When an individual is in an interview, they should be dressed appropriately for the job, smart or smart-casual. They should also make sure that they don't talk too much during the interview, unless the answer is long but they should keep the answers short and precise, they should always ask the interviewer questions if needed.

Presentation skills: These skills involve making eye contact with the interviewer, learning what is need to be presented, and to make sure the individual is speaking well and confidently. They should always maintain eye contact, this shows that they're confident and not afraid/anxious. =

Self-presentation: This is things such as dress codes, and interpersonal skills, these are skills such as verbal communication and non-verbal communication, listening skills, negotiation, problem solving, and decision making.When asked to go for an interview etc... it is common sense to dress smart to create a good impression. For a men, some form of suit, or shirt and black trousers should be worn. For a female, a shirt and black trousers is usually the dress code.

Task 8

Training on the job: This is training which takes place during a normal working situation. This type of training comes with advantages as it does not cost as much as off the job training. However, training on the job can cause the individual to pick up bad habits from observing other workers. A good example of these is an apprenticeship

Self-training: This is simply when someone teaches themselves a certain skill/s. For example, many people like to learn how to use certain programs which are involved in media, like premiere pro, by themselves instead of using tutorials or teachers.

Sources of information: These can be anything between trade unions, sector skills councils, and careers services. Trade unions have great knowledge and are known for protecting the rights and interests of workers. Sector skills councils specializes in helping people in certain jobs.

Task 9

Media: My English skills have developed through writing large amounts of coursework for my blogger, such as grammar spellings etc. My ICT skills have improved through using the Macintosh Desktops and certain programs which I may not have used before, for example Premiere Pro, After Affects, Blogger, and various other computer related skills along with camera skills and how to manage various files using the computers.

Monday, 30 June 2014

Job Letter

To whom it may concern,

I have pointed out some contractual, legal and ethical issues with your job application/advertisement for the 'Apprentice Digital Video Production Producer'. Many of these issues are shown through the religious views and age discrimination which can be seen on the advertisement. For example the person going for this job is expected to agree and/or believe in Christian views. The hours and salary have a very large gap in which you will be expected to be payed or how many hours you work, for example the hours in which you will work are shown as 10-45 hours per week, and the salary is shown as £15,000-£35000 per year, The salary for this job presents pay equality as you're showing that the individuals salary depends on how many hours worked and the age of the applicant.

The job role also includes and exclusivity clause, the application states "Please note that if successful, you must not apply for other positions of this nature." this shows that the successful applicant cannot work for anyone but the original employer (Flipside Media), although this application does not include a confidentiality clause which isn't necessarily needed but will help your company from having an secrets exposed.

A further look into the description of the job reveals that there is further problems, for example the Equality act is broken when the description is asking for male/females aged below 30, this is known as age discrimination because no one older than 30 can apply for this job. A famous example of this happening in television would be BBC Country-file presenter Miriam O'Reilly, was awarded 150k after being sacked for being 'too old'. Certain jobs can have an age limit if a sufficient reason has been given but in your case it has not.

This job brief does not state where anyone over the age of 30 is unable to write proposals, manage budgets (plus anything else this job entails). The Equality Act generally covers legislation to protect age, disability, gender, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity. It was brought in to cover a larger area of equality instead of having different laws for different types.

Another area in which your advertisement has breached the equality act is within the religious views section, your advertisement states that the person going forward for this job must 'promote the ideals of the Christian faith and try to encourage young people to contact us for further help and guidance', this is imposing that the applicants without Christian views would be treated worse than Christians, this is known as discreet discrimination, it is also showing that you aren't giving applicants a fair chance at being hired, this goes against the codes of practice. This also involves The Equal Opportunity Act where discrimination, sexual harassment and victimization is encouraged to be identified, and equality is promoted.

The employers at Flipside Media have liability for the applicant. The employers will be held accountable for anything that happens to the employee/applicants during the job for the Apprentice Digital Video Production Producer. In this job application brief the employee is told that if they want to apply for this position then they are to "plan and produce a short documentary". If there any legal issues within this video then they will not be held responsible to the employer. Due to the fact that the applicant is not yet working for Flipside Media, the individual is also not protected by employee rights. This could be due to the copyright in the part of the brief where the applicant is requested to use "a popular music soundtrack", but the applicant will only "be recompensed up to the value of £20 for the production of the video." where copyright is encouraged, the intellectual property law would be seen in this area for breaking copyrighted or patented material. Employee rights are the rights within your contract, like if the applicant is successful, the employee "must not apply for other positions". Although, the employee still has rights by law and they can in fact apply for other jobs, but this puts their current job at risk. This is where trade unions come in. Trade union protect the rights and interests of workers.

Codes of practice give expected standards and guidelines to other professions on their roles, rights and responsibilities, an example of this is The Equality Act. To avoid any legal issues within this job advertisement, you should then present the applicants with a health and safety instructions. Also, this is similar to policies and procedures, these protect companies and make sure that there is dependability and also having the advantage against employees which could face legal actions.

Policies are very detailed and straight to the point, they usually identify the aim, development, application, and consequences of the policy. This is necessary within your advertisement in response to "you should promote the ideals of the Christian faith..", which again limits this job role to only those which are Christian.

The job application also suggests certain representation of both males and females, this is shown when you put "You should interview teenagers and other individuals who might be/have been affected by the topic, including female victims and male offenders..". This suggests that males are always the offenders, and females are always a victims when rape occurs, although this is not the case and both genders can be the victim or the offender. The brief also suggests to use "re-enactments" and "dramatizations", these could be seen as disturbing and inappropriate considering you are showing it to a child can be seen as obscene due to the the interviews involving individuals which "have been affected by the topic". This also presents the Ofcom Protecting Under-Eighteens code where violent or dangerous behaviour "must not be featured in programmes made primarily for children..", whereas this documentary is going to be shown to children at High-school who are all under eighteen. The Obscene Publications Act (1959) regulates what gets published according to its obscenity, a documentary about rape may be hard to pass especially as it will be shown to children and have dramatisations and re-enactments. According to the BBFC or British Board of Film Classification your documentary would be rated as an 18 or higher (18r) due to the fact that it would include strong sexual scenes, and strong sexual violence if rape is involved within the dramatisations or re-enactments, strong language may also be involved if sexual activity would be related to certain slang words with are explicit and used in a violent way etc..

I hope that you take these points into consideration,

Your Sincerely,

Bruce Mann-McClernon

Tuesday, 17 June 2014

Job roles in the television and film industries

All of the information from this post comes from: http://creativeskillset.org/job_roles_and_stories/job_roles

Editor:

Industry: Film

Job details:

Working closely with the Director to craft the finished film
Working in an edit suite for long hours
Running a team of assistants and trainees on big productions

To do this role, you will need to:

Have technical aptitude
Have wide experience of the post production process
Be familiar with a variety of computer editing equipment
Understand dramatic storytelling to create rhythm, pace and tension

Be creative under pressure
Have imagination and an understanding of narrative
Have excellent communication and interpersonal skills
Have highly developed aesthetic visual awareness
Be able to lead a team
Have patience and attention to detail
Have good organisational skills
Understand the requirements of relevant health and safety laws and procedures

Best Route In:

Traditionally, you could go from being a Runner to a Trainee, Second Assistant, First Assistant and eventually to become an Editor. However, with digital editing, 2nd Assistants are now only employed on very big budget films.

As a Trainee with at least two years' experience you would have to work as an Assistant in television or on low budget films for a considerable period of time before becoming First Assistant on feature films. Some big budget productions take on Trainees and Second Assistants, and it is important to keep up to date with films in pre-production by reading the trade press.

If you can work with an Editor as an Assistant, you may be allowed to carry out the assembly edit of some sections of the film. If you can become an experienced Assistant, you may also work as an Editor on short films, which will enable you to showcase your talents.

Qualifications:

You don’t need a specific qualification. But if you are considering taking a film production course in higher education, the following courses have been rigorously assessed by the film industry and awarded the Creative Skillset Tick for the high standard of education they provide and the degree to which they prepare you for a career in film.

Work Hours and Pay:

Editors work long, unsociable hours, often under pressure, in an edit suite. They are employed on a freelance basis by the Producer (sometimes with the approval of the film's financiers), based on their reputation and experience. Editors often work on television drama, as well as on feature films.

Editor Salary (United Kingdom) The average salary for an Editor is £25,951 per year. Most people move on to other jobs if they have more than 20 years' experience in this field. A skill in People Management is associated with high pay for this job.

Sound Recordist:

Industry: TV

Job details:

Recording sound on location or in a studio, usually in synchronisation with the camera, to enable the highest quality 'real' sound to be recorded at the time of filming

To do this role, you will need to:

be a strong team player - many of the skills needed in this role involve working as a team as efficiently and effectively as possible
be willing and able to compromise
be able to think creatively to solve problems created by particular locations or situations
pay close attention to detail and concentrate for long periods
have good knowledge of audio equipment and sound technology
have knowledge of the television production process, including camera and lighting techniques
have knowledge of management and licensing of radio transmission systems
have excellent hearing
have excellent balance, agility and a good sense of timing
have good communication skills, including diplomacy and sensitivity when working with artists and crew members
be patient, self-disciplined and reliable
have knowledge of the requirements of the relevant health & safety legislation and procedures

Best Route In:

Qualifications:

Executive Producer:

Industry: TV

Job details:

Being responsible for the overall quality control and success of TV productions
Ensuring that television programmes conform to commissioners' specifications

To do this role, you will need to:

have creative flair and a commitment to quality programming
possess strong financial acumen
be able to assess projects for their marketability and potential audience appeal
have practical knowledge of financial, legal and regulatory requirements
be an exceptionally good networker and people manager
be able to prioritise effectively across a number of projects, managing your time and resources according to each production's requirements
understand programme markets and worldwide audience dynamics
understand the requirements of individual broadcasters' audiences and in some cases, individual commissioners' preferences
have a working knowledge of languages other than English in order to develop worldwide partnerships and marketing opportunities
have highly effective negotiating skills
have excellent verbal and written communication skills
have excellent presentation, pitching and marketing skills
possess advanced analytical skills and pay precise attention to detail
possess effective leadership and mentoring skills
show diplomacy and sensitivity when dealing with partner organisations and colleagues
be able to work under pressure calmly and effectively, and to tight deadlines
have current knowledge of the relevant legislation, regulations, and associated procedures, including copyright, data protection, public liability, etc. and how to comply with regulatory requirements
have knowledge of the requirements of the relevant health and safety legislation and procedures

Best Route In:

To become an Executive Producer, you will need to gain a lot of experience in the TV industry, and usually you will have worked previously for a number of years as a Producer, Writer, or Script Editor among other roles.

In the main, you will also have hands-on experience of producing, enabling you to appreciate the requirements of your own role within the production process. You will also need to have a good knowledge of other roles and grades.

In the role of Executive Producer, you may perform a dual role on productions, such as Writer and Executive Producer. Programme commissioners or heads of department employed by broadcasters are often credited as Executive Producers on all their departments' programming output.

Qualifications:

You won’t need a specific qualification to become an Executive Producer in TV. However, a degree in a media-related, drama or specialist subject may give you a good grounding.

You will need to have wide experience in and knowledge of the production process. Some specialist courses aimed at experienced producers offer training in co-production, developing networks and partnerships, pitching, and other topics.

Average Salary: £79,906

Location Manager:

Industry: Film

Job details:

Finding ideal locations for a film shoot
Negotiating fees, terms and permissions
Managing the location during the shoot

To do this role, you will need to:

Have plenty of initiative
Be able to visualise and find potential locations
Have excellent organisational skills
Have good negotiating skills
Have an understanding of location fees
Be able to work within budgets
Understand contracts
Understand local authority processes for permits
Have good problem solving skills
Have good communication skills
Be reliable and enthusiastic
Be flexible and able to work long hours
Have a full driving licence
Have a good working knowledge of health and safety requirements

Best Route In:

You can learn on the job as a Runner. Once you have experience, you can progress to the role of Location Scout, or Assistant Location Manager to an established Location Manager.

Qualifications:

You don’t need a formal qualification to become a Location Manager. If you can complete any health and safety training course, this is extremely useful.

Average Salary: £25,000

Researcher:

Industry: TV

Job details:

Originating or developing programme ideas, drawing on knowledge and understanding of industry requirements, and presenting findings to decision makers
Checking facts and briefing writers who write scripts for on-screen presenters

To do this role, you will need to:

be able to establish a rapport quickly with production personnel and potential contributors
maintain up-to-date contact lists and be able to access relevant information from various sources
source and suggest suitable contributors, demonstrating how their input fits into each production
be able to explain tactfully and diplomatically if contributors are not suitable
be aware of the legal and ethical considerations surrounding the release of information to the press and public, especially when sensitive or contentious issues are involved
be responsible for handling floats and petty cash, e.g. for taxis for contributors during production
be able to keep accurate records of all income and expenditure
have excellent verbal and written communication skills
have excellent presentation skills
possess advanced analytical skills
pay precise attention to detail and have a methodical approach to work
be able to conceptualise ideas and think visually
show initiative and possess strong problem-solving skills
have advanced IT skills
show diplomacy and sensitivity when working with writers, producers, actors, presenters, other contributors and crew members
have current knowledge of the relevant legislation, regulations, and associated procedures, including copyright, data protection, public liability, etc. and how to comply with regulatory requirements
have knowledge of the requirements of the relevant health and safety legislation and procedures

Best Route In:

You could start out as a Runner or Production Assistant, or gain a role as a Researcher because you have specialist qualifications or knowledge about a particular programme's content. You could also start out as a non-media researcher, journalist or writer and become a TV researcher.

Qualifications:

You won’t need a specific qualification to become a TV Researcher. However, a degree in a media-related, drama or specialist subject may give you a good grounding.

You will need to have wide experience in and knowledge of the pre-production and production processes.

Average salary: £20,268

Production Runner:

Industry: Film

Job details:

Working in the office, around the set and on location
Dealing with varied office admin tasks

Dealing with a range jobs on locations

To do this role, you will need to:

Be flexible and well organised
Be able to think on your feet
Have good communication skills
Be able to take orders
Be tactful and diplomatic
Be punctual
Be enthusiastic
Be able to work calmly and effectively under pressure
Have good IT skills
Have good organisational and administrative skills
Be able to work without supervision
Be versatile and a willing to learn
Be aware of relevant health and safety laws and procedures

Best Route In:

This is a good entry-level role into the film industry. You can make valuable contacts and may progress to a trainee position or another role in the Production Office.

Qualifications:

You don’t need a specific qualification, but a good education is an advantage. You will also need a full, clean EU driving licence.

Production Designer:

Industry: Animation

Job details:

Creating the ‘look’ of an animation project, developing the characters, environments, props, colour schemes and any other design elements
On some productions, also undertaking the role of Art Director

To do this role, you will need to:

have imagination, artistic flair and talent to produce the best design solutions for a project
be able to understand what is going to be achievable further down the line by the animation and post production teams
be able to work to a schedule and budget, and prioritise their own work and that of others
have good people management and leadership skills
have good communication and presentation skills
be able to take direction, give direction and work as part of a team
be able to work without supervision
be able to receive and address constructive feedback
be able to interview and assess work of potential art department member
be able to work long hours and, if required, work calmly under pressure
have knowledge of the requirements of the relevant health and safety legislation and procedures

Best Route In:

There is no typical career route you can follow into the Production Designer role in animation. You don't need an animation background, although an understanding both of animation in general, and the technique of a particular project, will be extremely helpful.

If a project is based on an existing book or comic strip, the creator of that original work may become the Production Designer.

Another route could be that you move into this role having been an illustrator or graphic designer who is 'cast' as Production Designer based on previous work, regardless of the medium that work was created in.

Ideally, you will have worked your way through the art department, possibly starting as character or set designer and working your way up to Art Director. The experience you gain via this route will enable you to appreciate more than just the design aspect of the project. In this way, you will make a greater contribution to the technical realisation of the project and the efficient running of the art department.

Qualifications:

To be a Production Designer you will generally need to have an established track record. You will be selected on the basis of the suitability of your style and work. You will usually need an art-related or design degree but may or may not have any experience of animation.

If you are considering taking an animation course in higher education, the following courses have been rigorously assessed by the animation industry and awarded the Creative Skillset Tick for the high standard of education they provide and the degree to which they prepare you for an animation career:

Camera Operator (Portable Single Camera):

Industry: TV

Job details:

Supporting the Director of Photography and the Director with shot composition and development on high budget productions
Being responsible for all aspects of camera preparation and operation

To do this role, you will need to:

have artistic ability and be able to offer creative input
have good colour vision, and excellent hand-to-eye co-ordination
have a strong affinity with technology, knowledge of the relevant electronics and an in-depth knowledge of the principles of camera work
have good communication skills and show diplomacy and sensitivity when working with artists, production staff and crew
be able to take direction and work as part of a team, particularly on multi-camera shoots
be able to carry out instructions with great accuracy and attention to detail
be able to frame and compose shots and perform camera moves with precision and speed
have good IT skills
possess physical stamina for working long hours and moving heavy equipment
understand the requirements of the relevant health and safety legislation and procedures

Best Route In:

Qualifications:

In addition, the could allow you to gain camera skills on the job. Again, the that provide the meet the highest standard of industry-relevant training.

Art Director:

Industry: TV and Film

Job details:

Realising the Production Designer's creative vision for all the sets and locations that give productions their look and feel
Project managing the work of the art department
Also undertaking the role of Production Designer on smaller TV productions

To do this role, you will need to:

have a good all-round knowledge of interior design and architecture and the history of both
have a practical understanding of building and construction
understand the work of other TV/film departments, such as camera, lighting, sound, props, and to know how your set designs affect their work
have a good knowledge of computer budgeting software
possess a full clean driving licence
have excellent free-hand drawing, perspective and technical drawing skills
possess a good eye for decoration and detail
be able to conceptualise ideas
be able to think visually
have a methodical approach to work
have strong leadership skills, to motivate and direct a team
be able to see the broader picture and to co-ordinate effectively
show diplomacy and sensitivity when working with artists and crew
be willing to work long and irregular hours
understand the requirements of the relevant health and safety legislation and procedures, particularly relating to potentially hazardous working conditions or materials
be aware of and sensitive towards different working practices and cultures when working in other countries

Best Route In:

To become an Art Director, you need to learn your skills on the job. This involves starting out as an Art Department Assistant and progressing through the grades, e.g. to Junior Draughtsman, then to Draughtsman or Assistant Art Director. Although this progression will take a number of years, it is a crucial process during which you will gain the knowledge and experience you require to become a good Art Director.

If you study film, television and theatre design you could also gain experience working on low budget productions before progressing to junior roles on television programmes or feature films.

You could transfer across from a similar role in the theatre, having learnt to conceptualise ideas and communicate them dramatically and visually; however, you will have to learn techniques specific to film and TV.

Qualifications:

You will generally require a qualification to be an Art Director. Many are graduates of art, architecture, theatre, interior or 3D design courses. You could also undertake higher-level courses in film and/or theatre production design. After training, it will be vital for you to acquire on-the-job experience of how art departments work, studio practice, working on locations, etc.